Easter Friday begins with it an absolute cracker of a match with the South Sydney Rabbitohs taking on the Canterbury Bulldogs. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:00pm (AEST).
South Sydney have shaken off a rough start to post back-to-back wins for the first time this season.
They currently sit 7th on the ladder and will be hoping to achieve another big jump with a win on Friday afternoon.
Canterbury are one of the form teams in the competition, currently sitting in second place with a 4-2 record. They managed to scrape a one-point win over the inconsistent Warriors in New Zealand last weekend.
Souths have been forced to make two changes this weekend, with both George Burgess and Ben Te’o suspended. Luke Burgess replaces his brother in the run-on side, while Chris McQueen will start for Te’o.
Ben Lowe and Joe Picker have been named in the 17, while Joel Reddy and Alex Johnston have been named to an extended bench.
The Bulldogs have made one change, with Pat O’Hanlon replacing the injured Frank Pritchard on the bench. Perennial 18th man Moses Mbye has once again been named on the extended bench for the Dogs.
Although the Rabbits have won the past two meetings between the two clubs, the Bulldogs have won 15 of the last 22, showing that the Bulldogs have dominated this matchup in recent times.
Prediction
Probably one of the hardest games to pick this weekend, with both teams in fairly good form coming in.
Considering the Rabbitohs missed the least amount of tackles in a game since the stat was recorded last weekend, I’ll back them in a thriller.
Rabbitohs by 2.
Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 4:00pm (AEST).
Clark
Guest
If only there was a way both teams could have lost.
jamesb
Guest
Crowd 43, 255 It is Souths sixth highest crowd for a home game. The other five: 2013- Souths v Roosters 59, 708 1969- Souths v St.George 53,146 1972- Souths v St.George 47,298 1971- Souths v Manly 44,911 1967- Souths v Easts 43,469
Gonads At Large
Guest
Souths haven't lost a penalty count over the last 14 games. A record?
steve
Guest
Sounds like a typical souths bulldogs game how did Tony Williams go!
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Absolute rip snorter of a game.Played at a fast furious and devil may care pace.Graham,Burgess,the Reynolds duo,every player in fact contributed. Edge of the seat stuff and result unknown til the final siren. Trust clowns like FitzSimons(in his weekly snipe at the NRL) actually watched the game,in view of the fact he recently bagged rl crowds and claimed the game has become uninteresting.Appears he has missed more than a few games,if that is his contention eg Storm v Dragons..
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
What about Sam Burgess? He was unreal!
Menace
Guest
Another Friday Hayne thriller - the guy is uncanny
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
FULL TIME Big effort from the Bulldogs to run right over the top of the Rabbitohs at ANZ this evening. Interestingly, this is the first time in NRL history that a team has won by a single point three weeks in a row. Looked like the Souths might have really felt the lack of troops down the stretch. James Graham is your man of the match tonight. Thanks for joining me for an absolute thriller from ANZ Stadium. Make sure to tune in for all the other games this weekend offers as well. Joel Erickson, once again signing out :)
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Hodkinson is the definition of clutch, two unbelievable conversions then a walk up field goal. Bang bang!!!
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
79' Inside the last minute here. Inglis is taken inside his own half. Adam Reynolds tries the 50 metre field goal, but it's short. Bulldogs might have done enough to get the chocolates here Rabbitohs 14 Bulldogs 15
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
78' Souths try the short kick off, but the Bulldogs manage to win it. They just go charging up the field now, making easy metres. Now Hodkinson goes high towards Nathan Merritt who manages to mark inside his own 10. Rabbitohs will need to go the length of the field Rabbitohs 14 Bulldogs 15
Jack
Guest
Poor ref s today I'm afraid. Bulldogs kept holding player s down in last set of 6
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
FIELD GOAL BULLDOGS Kasiano thinks about the offload, but decides not to in the end. Now Tim Lafai breaks a tackle and goes inside to Perrett. Now Hodkinson takes the shot and doesn't miss!!!! Could be 2 in a row for the Bulldogs halfback Rabbitohs 14 Bulldogs 15
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
76' Souths try the short side, but Sutton just takes the tackle. Now Nathan Merritt goes for a drop goal, but it's missed way to the right. Bulldogs now get their chance Rabbitohs 14 Bulldogs 14
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
75' Souths look to be setting up for the drop goal here. It's Adam Reynolds that takes the kick, but it's charged down. Now Merritt gets the ball back, and the Souths will get another 6 Rabbitohs 14 Bulldogs 14
Anakin
Guest
Cheers - last few posts didn't have it before I typed ..
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
74' Josh Reynolds goes for the drop goal, but he misses to the right. Souths will get the 7-tackle set now. Under 5 to go. Rabbitohs 14 Bulldogs 14
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
Game time is on commentary Anakin. It's usually the 68' or the 74' or the 23' you see before the words
Joel Erickson
Roar Guru
73' Burgess looks to have gotten a pass away, but he was called held. Merritt probably would have been away there. John Sutton goes for a 40-20, but the ball never looked like getting to the sideline. Bulldogs will get the 7 tackle set. Rabbitohs 14 Bulldogs 14
Anakin
Guest